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It has been 3 weeks today that I've known about my HIV. My boyfriend and I were both told we were positive the same day at completely different hospitals. He was in emergency surgery for his appendix, I was at cares. This was such a huge suprise for me. My choices have all been extremely safe, until I fell in love. This is my first boyfriend I've ever loved. (this is not supposed to sound lame) I have been with 8 guys 3 unprotected. I was tested negative.He has been with over 80. We did have the talk before we started dating. Condoms were used the first week then we stopped. That was 2 years ago in June. While in the hospital last week for a post surgery appointment the Dr. Aske how everything is going with his aids. I went from being strong and ready to fight HIV to completely shamed and hopeless. He had no idea it was this bad. Cd4 of 20 and viral load of 50,000. I'm so freaked out about the results I'm getting tomorrow.

I want to know everything! I have a journal I'm using for questions and updates on me. I would like to know if anyone here has advice for me? What do I need to ask?What meds work for the majority? I'm so new to all of this everything is still unreal and dreamlike. Thank you!

I very sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but I am glad you found your way here, to these boards. This place and the people here helped me a lot. The support will help you too.

I would recommend you read everything you can here! If you have not read it yet, I would read the "Newly Diagnosed" section on Poz.com along with the other lessons.

Please feel free to private me if you would like to do so. Also, take a look at my numbers. They are for the most part in my signature block. I started pretty low. But, am doing a lot better with medicine!

And, for now, do not be freaked out by your numbers tomorrow. It will be important to have them to work with your doctor to get you as healthy as possible. The numbers from your lab work will be reasonable sign posts as to how you are doing. But, they are not something to scare you!

First advice is to step back and breathe - literally. You sound like you are in panic (which is completely normal and God knows I was for the first few months), but really, everything is going to be OK, it just takes time to get through the initial stuff. A year later, i have been on meds for 8 months, zero side effects, undetectable and growing CD4's. The meds literally deliver miracles; it just takes the time to go through the process. When I had my first doctor's appointment, I had a list of about 20 "what if" questions. He let me ask them all, and then replied " In a word, MANAGABLE. We know so much about this virus now, that NOTHING can throw us a curve ball". I felt my anxiety drop a touch, and everything he said that day has indeed been true. You will find meds that will work. Period. There are over 25 drugs and lots of combos therein. Most are successful the first go round as resistance testing pretty much narrows it down; it is science not guesswork like the old days.You have got to trust that they will do their job because they will.

I was diagnosed with a CD4 count of 8 and a VL of a half million. I understand your fear and concern but the docs are pretty much on top of this. Mine assured me he could reverse the numbers and he did, my CD4 count is up around 245 at the moment and the VL is undetectable. The secret? Regular labs and regular doctors visits. When Cojo said the doc related that "NOTHING can throw us a curve ball", I was told basically the same thing. Every aspect of this disease is treatable.

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Diagnosed in May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX - FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS

Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

the real secret is simply staying adherent to the meds. Nothing else, no exercise, no positive thinking, no supplements, no lab work, no doctor, no nothing does a damn thing against HIV except the meds.

unfortunately there's really nothing you can do at all for the cd4s though except keep the HIV at bay with HAART so the HIV doesn't continue to erode your immune system.

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

the real secret is simply staying adherent to the meds. Nothing else, no exercise, no positive thinking, no supplements, no lab work, no doctor, no nothing does a damn thing against HIV except the meds.

unfortunately there's really nothing you can do at all for the cd4s though except keep the HIV at bay with HAART so the HIV doesn't continue to erode your immune system.

Not to split hairs Mike but is there a difference? Without the labs and doctors visits, I would not be on HAART and checking those labs is what makes sure the meds are working. Yes? No?

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Diagnosed in May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX - FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS

Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

Not to split hairs Mike but is there a difference? Without the labs and doctors visits, I would not be on HAART and checking those labs is what makes sure the meds are working. Yes? No?

sure there is a difference.

Of course, getting the prescription is important, so therefore the doctor is important, and having labs done is important because it shows whether the meds are working or not; but neither of those things does a darned thing to stop HIV. You could visit the doctor every month, you could get lab work done every 6 weeks -I did that for about 15 yrs by the way and most of that time was classified with AIDS (well under 200 cd4 and multiple OIs) - and I can guarantee you that it was taking HAART that kept me alive - not talking to the doctor or having my blood sucked up by a syringe.

Now that my numbers have been incredibly stable for 6 years (except the one blip, 4 yrs ago today matter of fact, when my last partner was in the hospital dying), my doctor has cut my visits to twice a year and if the next results in Oct hold at the same position then we're going to blood work once a year. W00T! After all these decades of HIV/AIDS it sure is nice to have been this stable this long and to reap this kind of reward.

are you trying to imply that now that I'll be seeing the doctor even less than twice a yr and having labs done only once a year that somehow my numbers are going to take a dive? LOL Nope. They'll be just fine because it's staying adherent to the meds, not doctor visits and labwork, that is going to keep the HIV under control.

so sure there is a difference. it's not splitting hairs, it's just being factual and accurate.

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

Of course, getting the prescription is important, so therefore the doctor is important, and having labs done is important because it shows whether the meds are working or not; but neither of those things does a darned thing to stop HIV. You could visit the doctor every month, you could get lab work done every 6 weeks -I did that for about 15 yrs by the way and most of that time was classified with AIDS (well under 200 cd4 and multiple OIs) - and I can guarantee you that it was taking HAART that kept me alive - not talking to the doctor or having my blood sucked up by a syringe.

Now that my numbers have been incredibly stable for 6 years (except the one blip, 4 yrs ago today matter of fact, when my last partner was in the hospital dying), my doctor has cut my visits to twice a year and if the next results in Oct hold at the same position then we're going to blood work once a year. W00T! After all these decades of HIV/AIDS it sure is nice to have been this stable this long and to reap this kind of reward.

are you trying to imply that now that I'll be seeing the doctor even less than twice a yr and having labs done only once a year that somehow my numbers are going to take a dive? LOL Nope. They'll be just fine because it's staying adherent to the meds, not doctor visits and labwork, that is going to keep the HIV under control.

so sure there is a difference. it's not splitting hairs, it's just being factual and accurate.

Well then, heres hoping that I can get the point of the yearly visit for labs and doc visit! The meds are working!

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Diagnosed in May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX - FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS

Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

Well then, heres hoping that I can get the point of the yearly visit for labs and doc visit!

at least it shouldn't take you 20 years. LOL

there are times I wish I didn't have to count the AZT and the ddI years. LOL I wish my history only took in the Reyataz/norvir/truvada years because these newer meds are the bomb over that old stuff. But I can't diss azt too damn much - it did keep me alive until something better came along.

here's hoping we all get to once-a-year monitoring

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix

Hi...Don't freak like I did. Diagnosed Asymptomatic HIV June 16, 2011 CD4 - 83, VL 530, started on meds Truvada and Insentruss July 20, 2011 by December 2011 I was undetectable. Last visit for labs was yesterday, still undetectable and the CD4 is 290. Doctor was thrilled.

Never been sick, never showed symptoms. The news of the diagnosis messed with me for months, cryed, couldn't focus on anything and found this site. Much was helpful accept for a few assholes that wanted to smash AIDS in my face.

Hasn't been difficult other than getting my head around that i have this thing I'm taking pills for.

I found out last week I'm HIV positive I allready saw the social worker to do paperwork I'm waiting on them to call me for the docors visit to do the cd4 count and stuff. How long does it take for the cd4 results? Is it a test that they have send blood out to be tested?

How long does it take for the cd4 results? Is it a test that they have send blood out to be tested?

welcome to the forums(After this you might want to start your own thread so you can discuss your issues without piggybacking onto someone else's discussion. especially after you get your results back and need to know more about what to do next.)

for most people it takes about 2 wks after having the blood draw to get results back - usually the results are given during an appointment with the doctor who can explain what treatment is needed.

you should definitely check out the LESSONS section here, especially the part about the tests and what they mean. (hover over the word TREATMENT in the gray menu bar above. The LESSONS link is in the second column)

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leatherman (aka mIkIE)

All the stars are flashing high above the seaand the party is on fire around you and meWe're gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes- Pet Shop Boys chart from 1992-2015Isentress/Prezcobix